Flexible carrying handle



Aug. 23, 1966 T. LA cRocE 3,268,112

FLEXIBLE. CARRYING HANDLE Filed Dec. 19, 1963 zip- INVENTOR.

'zmv/m mums LQCAOJZ United States Patent 3,268,112 FLEXIBLE CARRYING HANDLE Leonard Thomas La Croce, Dumont, N.J., ass'ignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of NewJersey Filed Dec. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 331,765 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-94) The present invention relates to containers, and more particularly to a container which is provided with a flexible carrying handle which is firmly anchored in place on the top end of the container by an outwardly bent cu-r-l which surrounds the filling opening of the container.

In many instances, it is very desirable to provide a metal can with a convenient and attractive carrying handle, particularly when the container is of large size and is to be filled with a heavy product, such as liquid antifreeze or the like.

The present invention contemplates such a can wherein a plastic carrying 'handle is utilized which is attractive in appearance and which lies flatly against the top end of the can when not in use and thus does not interfere with stacking of the cans, or add substantially, if at all, to their height, thus obviating the need for higher shipping cases.

The handle is provided at one end with an anchor ring over which is crimped the outwardly curled edge of an upstanding throat which defines a filling and/or dispensing opening which is formed in the top end of the can to thereby securely hold the handle in place. A sealing plug is provided which extends into the filling opening to seal it and prevent leakage of the contents of the can therethrough. In addition to its sealing function, the plug may reinforce the throat curl to thereby assist in holding the handle in place. As a result, there is thus provided a container which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive, and extremely useful as a carrying container for heavy products.

An object of the invention therefore, is the provision of a container which embodies the above described advantages.

Another object is the provision of such a container wherein the carry-ing handle lies flatly against the can top below the level of the top edge of the top seam of the can when not in use but which may be readily grasped and lifted to vertical, operative position when it is desired to carry the container.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a container embodying the principles of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1, parts being broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, correspond-ing generally to FIG. 2 but on a somewhat large scale, taken through portions of a modified form of the invention, parts being broken away.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose a metal can which comprises a tubular metal body 12 which is shown as being rectangular in horizontal cross-section but which may obviously be of any other desired or suitable shape or configuration. The ends of the body 12 are closed by top and bottom metal end members 14, 16 which are formed of any suitable metal and are secured 3,268,1l2 Patented August 23, 1966 to the body 12 in any suitable manner. In the illustrated form of the invention the body 12 and end members 14, 16 are joined in conventional interfolded double seams 18.

The top end member 14 is preferably formed with a countersunk, flat central panel 20 which is set into the upper end of the body 12 and is recessed below the top edge of the top double seam 18.

The panel 20 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 22, which may be utilized as a filling opening through which the container contents (not shown) may be introduced into the interior of the can. The opening 22 is defined by an upstanding throat 24 which'preferably is formed integral with the panel 20.

In order to provide the means for conveniently carrying the can 10, a one-piece carrying handle 26 is firmly secured to the top end member 14 in such manner that when not in use, it lies flatly against the upper surface of the top end member, preferably below the top edge of the top seam 18. The handle 26 is preferably made of a strong, flexible, substantially resilient material such as polyethylene or other suitable resinous .plastic material and is formed with a gripping portion, generally designated as 28, which comprises a grip bar 30 and a pair of legs 32 which convergently extend from the ends of the grip bar 30 and connect the grip bar 35 to the diametrically opposite sides of an anchor ring 34 which closely surrounds the throat 24.

The upper portion of the anchor ring 34 is formed with a groove 36, and the upper end of the throat 24 is formed into an outward curl 38 which is extended around the inner edge portion of the anchor ring 34 so that it closely grips and compresses the same, the raw edge 40 of the curl terminating at, and preferably being slightly buried and thus concealed in, the bottom of the groove 36. This concealment of the raw edge 40 is of particular importance in the event the end member 14 is formed of a steel substrate which is coated on both sides with a protective layer of a suitable non-corrosive material such as tin or an organic coating, since in such intances the raw edge 40, being unprotected, would be subject to rust or other corrosion if exposed.

The central filling opening 22 is closed by means of a plastic sealing plug 42 which is force-fitted therein to prevent leakage of the container contents along the throat 24, the plug 42 being provided with an imperforate bottom wall 43 and an annular side wall 44 having formed therein an outwardly extending locking rib 46 which engages beneath the bottom edge of the throat 24 to firmly hold the plug 42 in place. The upper edge of the side wall 44 merges into an outwardly extending flange 48 which overlies and conceals the curl 38. If desired, the flange 48 may contact the anchor ring 34 outwardly of the curl 38 to seal off the curl 38 from external atmosphere and to further protect it from corrosion.

As an alternate construction, FIG. 3 discloses a modified form of invention wherein the same carrying handle '26 is utilized but wherein the plastic plug 42 is replaced by a plug 50 which is formed of sheet metal. The plug 50 is also formed with an annular side wall 52, the bottom portion of which is expanded outwardly, preferably after insertion of the plug 50 into the opening 22, to form a locking rib 54.

The upper end of the annular wall 52 is formed into an outwardly extending curl 56 which overlies and reinforces the curl 38, the raw edge of the curl 56 also preferably being buried in the groove 36. A film of sealing compound 58 may be interposed between the curls 38 and 56 to prevent leakage of the contents.

When it is desired to use the handle 26 to carry the container 10, the grip bar 30 is grasped and lifted, and the weight of the container and its contents thereafter cause the grip bar 30 and legs 32 to assume the vertical position shown in dot and dash lines in FIG. 2. In this position, the fingers of the person carrying the container fit easily around and beneath the grip bar 30 and a comtortable carrying grip is thereby obtained.

Since the legs 32 join the anchor ring 34 on diametrically opposed sides thereof at points which are substantially on the center line of the short dimension of the end member 14, the container is balanced with respect to the grip bar 30 and is thus easily and readily carried. After use, the handle 26 tends to return to its initial flat position on the can end 14.

If it is desired to use the central opening 22 as a dispensing opening, the plug 42 may be pried out of the opening when desired, and thereafter reinserted in snap fit engagement. The plug 50 is not intended for removal. To dispense the container con-tents when the plug 50 is used, it is intended that dispensing holes be cut in the end member 14 .by any suitable cutting tool, such as a punch type can opener. It will be understood, of course, that a removable sheet metal plug may be provided in place of the non-removable plug 50.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit I claim:

1. A carrying container, comprising a can body having a metal top end seamed thereto in an upstanding end seam, said end having an opening formed therein, and an upstanding throat defining said opening, and a carrying handle formed of flexible material and having an anchor ring which surrounds said throat, the upper portion of said throat being curled outwardly into tight engagement with said anchor ring to secure said handle in place on said metal end, said handle also including a grip bar and a pair of legs which connect said grip bar to opposite sides of said anchor ring, said grip bar and legs normally lying flatly against said metal end below the level of the top of the end seam but being movable to a substantially upright position when in use.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said opening in the metal end is closed by a sealing plug in engagement with said throat and having a flange which overlies the upper end of said throat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,914,409 6/1933 =Draper 22042 3,000,527 9/1961 Jennings et al. 215-l00 3,021,976 2/1-962 Tracy 220--38.5 3,042,271 7/1962 Winstead 22094 3,153,491 10/ 1964 Ma-cTavish et a1 220-94 3,159,320 12/1964 Scholtz 22094 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

R. H. SCHWARTZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARRYING CONTAINER, COMPRISING A CAN BOCY HAVING A METAL TOP END SEAMED THERETO IN AN UPSTANDING END SEAM, SAID END HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN, AND AN UPSTANDING THROAT DEFINING SAID OPENING, AND A CARRYING HANDLE FORMED OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND HAVING AN ANCHOR RING WHICH SURROUNDS SAID THROAT, THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID THROAT BEING CURLED OUTWARDLY INTO TIGHT ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ANCHOR RING TO SECURE SAID HANDLE IN PLACE ON SAID METAL END, SAID HANDLE ALSO INCLUDING A GRIP HER AND A PAIR OF LEGS WHICH CONNECT SAID GRIP BAR TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ANCHOR RING, SAID GRIP BAR AND LEGS NORMALLY LYING FLATLY AGAINST SAID METAL END BELOW THE LEVEL TO THE TOP OF THE END SEAM BUT BEING MOVABLE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY UPRGIGHT POSITION WHEN IN USE. 